Earthmoving and hoisting machines



Sept. 1965 J. BIENAIME 3,207,340

EARTHMOVING AND HOISTING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR JACQUES BIENAIME A TT'OZNEYS Sept. 21, 1965 J. BIENAIME 0EARTHMOVING AND HOISTING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR JACQUES BIENAIME A TT'O NEVS Sept. 21, 1965 J. BIENAIME3,207,340

EARTHMOVING AND HOISTING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOP JACQUES BIENAIME P 1965 J. BIENAIME 3,207,340

EARTHMOVING AND HOISTING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR JACQUES BIENAIME A TTZRNEYS Sept- 1965 J. BIENAIME 3,207,340

EARTHMOVING AND HOISTING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 5IN VE N TOR dACQU ES BIENAIME ATiZ/RNEYS Sept- 1965 J. BlENAlME3,207,340

EARTHMOVING AND HOISTING MACHINES Filed July 26. 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6INVENTOF? JACQUES BIE'NAIME fl TTORNEYS Sept. 21, 1965 J. BIENAIME3,207,340

EARTHMOVING AND HOISTING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1963 l 7 Sheets-Sheet 7IN VENTOR JACQUES BIENA/ME United States Patent "ice 3,207,340EARTHMOVING AND HOISTING MACHINES Jacques Bienaime, Paris, France,assignor to Yumbo, Genas (Isere), France, a body corporate of FranceFiled July 26, 1963, Ser. No. 297,935 Claims priority, applicationFrance, Aug. 4, 1962, 906,118; July 3, 1963, 940,269 3 Claims. (Cl.214-138) The present invention relates essentially to public works orearthmoving and hoisting machinery, notably power shovels, cranes or thelike, comprising on the one hand a boom pivoted on the main frame andactuated by a boom cylinder and on the other hand a bucket arm or thelike pivoted on the end of said boom and actuated by an arm cylinder.

In hitherto known devices of this character various drawbacks limittheir field of applications. Even the mere presence of the cylindersreduces considerably the minimum angle which the pivoted elementsactuated thereby may form with each other. As the cylinders are pivotedon these elements on the one hand by the cylinder end and on the otherhand by the outer end of the piston rod of the same cylinder, thepermissible angular movement of the boom and of the arm is restricted bythe length of this cylinder. Thus, in the case of a back-dragging powershovel for digging foundation-s, trenches or the like the boom cylinderactually limits the depth at which the bucket can be operated. Likewise,in the case of a skimmer bucket the presence of the arm cylinder limitsthe permissible backward stroke of the bucket.

On the other hand, these cylinders are mounted on pivot members which,on account of their specific configuration, cannot adapt themselves tomisalignments existing or occurring inevitably in any mechanicalconstruction subjected to import-ant stresses.

The machine according to this invention is remarkable notably in thateach cylinder aforesaid is provided with a pivot member secured at anydesired location along its body and comprising two trunnions having acommon axis extending at right angles and radially to the cylinder axis.

It will be seen that with this pivot member the point of attachment ofthe cylinder may be selected at any desired location along the cylinderbody whereby the cylinder portion extending from this point ofattachment to the cylinder bottom will not interfere with the downwardmovement of the boom or the backward movement of the bucket arm, ascontracted with known arrangements.

According to a specific form of embodiment, the body of the boomcylinder is pivoted on the main frame but at a certain level above theplatform thereof in order to permit its free movement, the piston rod ofsaid cylinder being pivoted on the boom.

Still according to this invention the boom cylinder body is pivoted onthe boom, and the cylinder portion extending beyond the point offixation is housed inside the boom whilst the piston rod of saidcylinder is pivoted on the bucket arm.

It will be seen that the boom cylinder and bucket-arm cylinderarrangement according to this invention afiords a substantial increasein the range of working possibilities of the machine, irrespective ofthe manner in which it is operated.

According to a further feature characterizing this in 3,207,340 PatentedSept. 21, 1965 vention, the body of said cylinders is mounted on saidpivot member through the medium of a swivel bearing, ball-and-socketjoint or the like.

This assembly enables the cylinder to accommodate the variousmisalignments likely to exist or occur between the main frame and theboom either by construction or as a consequence of distortions of theseelements as will inevitably occur during the operation of the machine.

The aforesaid pivot member comprises a collar or like member of whichthe inner, part-spherical face, is adapted to co-act with a ball of aswivel joint rigid with said cylinder and with an annular member alsoformed with a part-spherical face and fitting in said collar in order tohold said ball in position.

Other features and advantages of this invention will appear as thefollowing description proceeds with reference to the accompanyingdrawings illustrating diagrammatically by way of example typical formsof embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing an earthmoving machineconstructed according to the teachings of the invention, the boom andbucket arm being assumed to be in their outermost positions;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the machine during itsoperation as a skimmer;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and 2, showing the machineduring its operation as a backhoe or trencher;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view showing a machine constituting analternate embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE .5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 with the boom in its lowermostposition;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURES 4 and 5, showing the boom in itsuppermost position;

FIGURE 7 is a section showing a cylinder according to a specific form ofembodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a detail view showing in section the mounting of a cylinderbody on the pivot member, and

FIGURE 9 is another detail view showing the mounting of the trunnions ofthe pivot member.

The machine illustrated in diagrammatic form in FIG- URES 1 to -3comprises a main frame '10, for example of the type mounted for swivelmotion on a crawlertrack undercarriage '11 and provided with a boom 13having its lower end pivoted at 12 on said main frame. At its upper endthe boom 13 carries a bucket or like arm 14 pivoted at .15 on the boom.This arm 14 carries a bucket or like tool 16 pivoted about a pivot '17on the outer end of said arm 14.

The boom is responsive to a boom cylinder 18 comprising a body 19pivoted on the frame at 20 and a piston rod 21 pivoted on the boom at22, As shown, the cylinder body '19 is pivotally mounted at a pointsomewhat spaced from the bottom of this cyliner, the pivot point :20 onthe frame '10 being disposed of course at a level sufiicient to permitthe free movements of the cylinder portion extending between said pivotpoint and the cylinder bottom.

The arm is actuated by means of an arm cylinder 23 comprising a cylinderbody 24 pivoted on the boom at 25 and a piston rod 26 pivoted on the armat 27. This arm cylinder is pivoted like the boom cylinder at a pointsomewhat spaced from its bottom. Of course, the length of the armcylinder which extends from the pivot point 25 and the cylinder bottomis slightly inferior to the .URE the boom is in its lowermost position.

boom depth to permit the free movement of said cylinder.

Finally, the bucket or like tool 16 is actuated by means of anothercylinder 28 constituting in this example part of a known assembly.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate clearly the advantageous featurescharacterizing this invention.

In FIGURE 2 the machine is being operated as a skimmer the boom 13 is inits intermediate position, the arm 14 being shown in its rearrnostposition (in thick lines). It will be seen that the arm can recede as ifthe cylinder 23 had only a length d, that is, the useful length L of thecylinder body minus the distance I between its pivot point 25 and itsbottom, thus affording a greater angular movement than that obtainedwith a cylinder of same length but pivoted on the cylinder end (positionshown in chaindotted lines). The angle a corresponding to the increasein the permissible angular amplitude of arm 14 provides an increase ofabout 12% in the levelling stroke of the bucket. Thus, a machinecapable, with conventional cylinders, of effecting 8-feet levellingstrokes will accomplish ll-feet strokes with the cylinders of thisinvention.

In FIGURE 3 the machine is assumed to be operated -as a backhoe fordigging trenches or the like. The boom 13 is in its lowest position andthe arm 14 is in an intermediate position. It will be seen that the boommay be lowered exactly as if the cylinder 18 had only a length d, i.e.the useful cylinder length L minus the distance 1' between its pivotpoint 20 and its bottom, whereby it can be lowered to an extentconsiderably greater than the amplitude permitted by a cylinder of samelength but pivoted at its bottom (as shown in chain-dotted lines). Theangle 3 shows the increase in the permissible angular amplitude thusobtained. It may be pointed ut by way of example that by equipping amachine of known type with a cylinder according to this invention theper- Inissible angular amplitude of the boom increases from 80 to 95.

The machine illustrated diagrammatically in FIGURES 4 to 6 of thedrawings comprises a main frame or chassis 29 supported for example bywheels 30. A boom 31 is ,pivoted at one end 32 on the frame 29 and maycomprise at its opposite end 33 any desired hoisting, handling r workingtool, such as hooks, buckets or the like. To operate the boom, acylinder 34 is provided, the body 35 of this cylinder being pivoted at36 on the boom and its piston rod 37 is pivoted at 38 on the main frame.

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate the advantageous properties of the machineillustrated in FIGURE 4. In FIG- It will be seen that the boom can belowered exactly as if the cylinder had only a length d between theattachment 38 and 36, that is, the length L" of the cylinder body minusthe distance 1', whereby the boom can be lowered at a level considerablylower than that permitted by cylinders of greater length. FIGURE 6 showsthe boom in its uppermost position, with the cylinder in its fullyextended condition. The dotted lines show the position attained by thearm in its maximum raised position if the cylinder had only a totallength d" corresponding to the actual dimension shown in FIGURE 5. Thisposition corresponds to that of a boom 31' actuated bya cylinder 34' 'oftotal length d", with a rod 37' of corresponding length. It is clearthat a substantial difference is obtained between the permissibleangular strokes of booms 31 and 31' when these two booms are in theiruppermost respective positions, these two booms having on the other handthe same lowermost position corresponding to the position shown inFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a typical embodiment of a cylinder according tothis invention. The cylinder body 39 is provided with a pivot memberconsisting of a pair of trunnions or like elements 40 secured forexample by welding at a certain distance from its bottom 3%. Thesetrunnions are mounted in bearings 41 rigid with either the main frame ofthe machine or the boom. Each trunnion 40 is formed withan axial bore 42and a radial bore 43 connected to fluid supply line 44 adapted todeliver thereto a suitable fluid, for example oil under pressure, foractuating the piston 35. The fluid supply pipes and each axial bore areinterconnected through a member 46 mounted for free rotation in a recess47 formed in said trunnions and secured thereto by means of a lock nut48. It will be seen that with this specific mounting the fluid supplypipes cannot be carried along during the angular movements of thecylinder.

The cylinder body 39 may be mounted on the pivot member by means of .aswivel bearing as shown in FIG- URE 8. In this case the pivot membercomprises a collar 49 carrying the trunnions 50. The ball member 51 ofpart-spherical and annular configuration is secured on the cylinder body52 and contacts the inner part-spherical surface of collar 49. Thiscollar 49 has circular recess 53 formed on one side and adapted toreceive an annular member 54 also formed with a part-spherical innersurface complementary to that .of collar 49, this member 54 beingsecured to the collar 49 by screws 55, as shown.

The swivel mounting permits of accommodating the misalignment likely toexist or occur between the frame or cab, the boom and the boom cylinderproper, such as diiferences arising during the assembly or as aconsequence of distortions of each component element of the structureduring the operation of the machine.

The trunnions themselves may be mounted if desired on swivel bearing lorball-and-socket joints, as shown in FIGURE 9. In this case eachpart-spherical, ball-like element 56 is rigid with its companiontrunnion 57 and mounted in a race or socket 58, formed with apartspherical inner surface. This race or socket 58 is carried in turnby a bearing member 59 rigid with the frame or boom of the machine. Withthis arrangement the trunnions are adapted to withstand considerablestress or distortion, as will occur inevitably in the frame and/ or boomduring the operation of the machine, without any abnormal or detrimentalstrain.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction withpreferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications andvariations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of theinvention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Suchmodifications and variations are considered to be within the purview andscope of the invention and appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An earthmoving machine comprising a frame structure, a boom havingone end pivoted on said frame structure, a boom cylinder-for actuatingsaid boom, said boom having a cylindrical body and a piston rod andbeing pivoted on said frame structure and also on said boom, an armpivoted on the other end of said boom, an arm cylinder for actuatingsaid arm, said arm cylinder having a cylindrical body and a piston rodand being pivoted on said boom and also on said arm, each one of saidtwo cylindrical bodies having a pair of trunnions having a common axisextending at right angles and radially to the axis of said cylindricalbodies, fluid supply means in said trunnions, fluid supply lines forconnecting said fluid supply means to said cylindrical body, bearingmembers respectively secured on said frame structure, said boom and saidarms, said bearing members adapted to receive said trunnions and swiveljoint means mounted between said cylindrical bodies and said bearingmembers whereby misalignments occurring between said frame structure,said boom and said arm are accommodated; said fluid supply means in eachone of said trunnions comprising an axial recess and an axial boreformed in said trunnion, a connection member mounted for free rotationin said recess and connected to a duct fed with compressed fluid, a lockmember secured in said recess for holding said connection member inposition and a radial bore opening in said axial bore and communicatingwith said supply line.

2. An earthmoving machine according to claim 1 wherein said swivel pointmeans comprises a collar carrying said trunnions, said collar having apart-spherical inner face, said collar also being provided with acoaxial annular recess, a part-spherical male element secured on saidcylinder and contacting the inner face of said collar and an annularelement also formed with a part-spherical inner face, said annularelement fitting in said recess and being 10 2,296,327

secured on said collar.

3. An earthmoving machine according to claim 1 wherein said swivel jointmeans comprises a male element secured on each one of said trunnions,said male element having a part-spherical outer face, and a femaleelement carried by said bearing member, said female element having apart-spherical inner face contacting the outer face of said maleelement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,371,344 3/21Brackett 214l38 X 2,685,973 8/54 Dobeus 214140 2,732,963 1/56 Grubich214-140 9/42 Andersen et al 214l3l FOREIGN PATENTS 3/ 58 Denmark. 5/57Great Britain.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,207,340 September 21, 1965 Jacques Bienaime It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 52, after "boom", third occurrence, insert cylinder(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD-J. BRENNER Commissioner ofPatents

1. AN EARTHMOVING MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAME STRUCTURE, A BOOM HAVINGONE END PIVOTED ON SAID FRAME STRUCTURE, A BOOM CYLINDER FOR ACTUATINGSAID BOOM, SAID BOOM HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BODY AND A PISTON ROD ANDBEING PIVOTED ON SAID FRAME STRUCTURE AND ALSO ON SAID BOOM, AN ARMPIVOTED ON THE OTHER END OF SAID BOOM, AN ARM CYLINDER FOR ACTUATINGSAID ARM, SAID ARM CYLINDER HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BODY AND A PISTION RODAND BEING PIVOTED ON SAID BOOM AND ALSO ON SAID ARM, EACH ONE OF SAIDTWO CYLINDRICAL BODIES HAVING A PAIR OF TRUNNIONS HAVING A COMMON AXISEXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES AND RADIALLY TO THE AXIS OF SAID CYLINDRICALBODIES, FLUID SUPPLY MEANS IN SAID TRUNNIONS, FLUID SUPPLY LINES FORCONNECTING SAID FLUID SUPPLY MEANS FOR SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY, BEARINGMEMBERS RESPECTIVELY SECURED ON SAID FRAME STRUCTURE, SAID BOOM AND SAIDARMS, SAID BEARING MEMBERS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID TRUNNIONS AND SWIVELJOINT MEANS MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID CYLINDRICAL BODIES AND SAID BEARINGMEMBERS WHEREBY MISALIGNMENTS OCCURING BETWEEN SAID FRAME STRUCTURE,SAID BOOM AND SAID ARM ARE ACCOMMODATED; SAID FLUID SUPPLY MEANS IN EACHONE OF SAID TRUNNIONS COMPRISING AN AXIAL RECESS AND AN AXIAL BOREFORMED IN SAID TRUNNION, A CONNECTION MEMBER MOUNTED FOR FREE ROTATIONIN SAID RECESS AND CONNECTED TO A DUCT FED WITH COMPRESSED FLUID, A LOCKMEMBER SECURED IN SAID RECESS FOR HOLDING SAID CONNECTED MEMBER INPOSITION AND A RADIAL BORE OPENING IN SAID AXIAL BORE AND COMMUNICATINGWITH SAID SUPPLY LINE.